Okay I am seriously considering going on Optifast. However, I am worried about the statistics. 95% gain their weight back? Not very encouraging. Has anyone kept their weight off with this plan?

I kept my weight off (56 lbs)for 9 years and through 3 pregnancies. It was only after a leg injury that prevented excersise that I put 3/4 of my weight back on. I'm back on product to help get rid of bad habits that have crept back. Keep in mind I excersised and watched what I ate for those 9 years. It was always on my mind. I think I have a tendancy to gain very easily.

Can I know is having gall bladder stones one of the side effects doing optifast? The doctor and dietician did not mention this to me at all. Ava, can I know does your optifast fasting includes 2 cups of vegetables daily or are you purely on optifast products only ? My doctor told me as long as I take in enough water, the water should be able to flush off the toxins. After your incident, I am quite concern about this gall bladder stones.BTW Lambchop, are you going to AH for the wt management package or you intend to ask your doctor friend to help purchase the optifast ?

Hi Angie,My KKH dr refused to prescribe Optifast for me:( He wants me to follow a healthful diet, eat more veg, exercise, lean meat, etc, etc, so I'll need to undereat hell of a lot. I'm so hungry!!! Anyway KKH doesn't have Optifast. My breakfast was at McDonald's, took the $2.50 sausage set, took away the top & bottom buns, ate the cheese & meat and drank my black coffee sugarless. Lunch was duck meat and a cup of sugarless tea. I hate high protein and low carb diet but I'd realise that this kind of Atkins or South Beach Diet works for me. I do take vegetables & fruits so I'm not losing much fast. Guess I'll just take it slowly then. I won't ask my dr friend now. Your AH price is still the best!I'll give myself till May 2010 to lose 6.5kg. Slow & steady...When I go full force high protein, I suffer from leg cramps & bone loss. So I cannot go on just protein diet alone, it's so bad for health.Good Luck to you...persevere...

Hi Lambchop, sorry to hear that your doctor refuse to prescribe the optifast for you. However I do agree with you doctor, you can lose weight healthily by changing your diet and exercise. For the optifast, at the end of this program is to change the eating habits because we cannot take optifast forever. At active phase, 5 packets of optifast then the transition phase with 1 meal + 4 packets of optifast and then the final phase is normal diet.

I notice from your previous posts that you take fast food , satay, fish head curry and duck meat. You do not have to undereat in order to lose weight, just eat wisely and cut down on these high calorie food. You can choose to eat low GI or high fibre food, they can make you feel full and have energy for the day. Cut down on fast food to once a week or once a month and try to exercise at least 30 mins every day.Since you give yourself 6 months to lose 6.5kg, ie roughly 1kg per month, I believe you can make it!

If you really want to lose weight fast, maybe you can ask your doctor if you can take a medication called phentamine. I used to take phentamine from a doctor at Bishan and was allowed to eat meat and fast food for breakfast, no lunch, then fruits and veggies in the eve, something similar to Atkins and I was able to lose 25kg within a short time frame. I was eating chicken mcnuggets for breakfast almost everyday at that time. However there are several side effects such as bad breadth, nervousness, insomia etc. I gained back the weight over the years after I stopped taking the medication. Hence, best solution to lose weight and maintain it is to have a healthy eating habit and exercise regularly.

I have done Optifast in the past and lost 75lbs in 3 mnths. I kept it off for quite awhile, but added exercise(daily) and really watched what I ate and drank(alcohol) Slowly, the weight came back on, but I also let me exercise and good eating habits go to the wayside. If you're exercising, your body is conserving calories, but it's healthier to exercise, even if it takes longer. You should ask your provider if you should add calories.I'm planning to do this again after considering gastric bypass which just scares me to death. My friends at work have had this surgery and within this yr, after having lost 100lbs each, they are gaining again. They were also hospitalized for dehydration, adhesions, anemia. One of them must have iron infusions and B12 shots for the rest of her life. I would stick w/Optifast and make a commitment to exercise and eat healthy.hope this helps.

You won't have long term results with this. You aren't teaching yourselves the right balance between exercise and diet. There is no quick fix, you need to be exercising to lose weight long term and learn to like it. And you can still eat! Have you seen the biggest loser? They aren't on Optifast, they are working hard to lose the weight. I used to be fat, lost 85 pounds by exercising and eating better, it took about a year and now I do triathlons and marathons and am still in great shape. And now I can pretty much each whatever I want - 6 healthy meals a day. Don't even have to worry about it. Just can't eat garbage and have to do 45 minutes of cardio 4 days a week. It really is not that hard.

Hi Lambchop, sorry to hear that your doctor refuse to prescribe the optifast for you. However I do agree with you doctor, you can lose weight healthily by changing your diet and exercise. For the optifast, at the end of this program is to change the eating habits because we cannot take optifast forever. At active phase, 5 packets of optifast then the transition phase with 1 meal + 4 packets of optifast and then the final phase is normal diet.I notice from your previous posts that you take fast food , satay, fish head curry and duck meat. You do not have to undereat in order to lose weight, just eat wisely and cut down on these high calorie food. You can choose to eat low GI or high fibre food, they can make you feel full and have energy for the day. Cut down on fast food to once a week or once a month and try to exercise at least 30 mins every day.Since you give yourself 6 months to lose 6.5kg, ie roughly 1kg per month, I believe you can make it!If you really want to lose weight fast, maybe you can ask your doctor if you can take a medication called phentamine. I used to take phentamine from a doctor at Bishan and was allowed to eat meat and fast food for breakfast, no lunch, then fruits and veggies in the eve, something similar to Atkins and I was able to lose 25kg within a short time frame. I was eating chicken mcnuggets for breakfast almost everyday at that time. However there are several side effects such as bad breadth, nervousness, insomia etc. I gained back the weight over the years after I stopped taking the medication. Hence, best solution to lose weight and maintain it is to have a healthy eating habit and exercise regularly.

Thanks Angie. My darling son advises me to exercise a lot too. I hurt badly on my right heel so I hate to walk too much. Guess I can settle for rowing machines type, cycling or swimming. Just had chicken chop at Aston's, minus BBQ sauce & chilli sauce. Didn't eat the 2 side dishes - onion rings & french fries. Again 1 cup of plain tea. Gave myself some treats, 4 pieces of Kellog's Special K, 1 raisin, 1 dried apricot (same size as the raisin), 2 cashew nuts & 2 pistachio nuts. I used to eat the whole packet of nuts:) Conclusion: STILL HUNGRY:( ha...ha...eating less is so miserable!I'm going for some exercises in the park later if it doesn't rain. I started eating less on 1 Dec (65.2kg). Today I weigh 62.0kg.(I controlled my hunger at 10pm last night.)YAY!!!Lost 3.2kg so far.Actually I'm so crazy, my whole life story is yo-yo dieting. I'll always tell myself not to be FAT again but then I'll lose control and eat without a care in the world, then regret & this is the 1st time I gave up on losing weight since 2005. Because of health reasons, I'm determined to hit my ideal weight!!!

Haha Lampchop, actually your choice of food are quite similar to my previous eating habits. I also like to dine at Aston and I used to have steak. You can still enjoy Aston's side dishes by choosing healthier alternatives such as their garden salad, coleslaw, corn or baked potato instead of onion rings and french fries. Since you have dropped 3.2kg, keep up the good work.

Maybe the problem with you is your huge appetite. Like I said before, if you eat high fibre or low GI food, you wouldnt feel hungry easily. You can also try eating 5 small meals instead of 3 main meals so that you wont feel hungry easily. Then try to exercise more, swimming is a good form of exercise. Not only it burns calories as much as jogging, it is also low impact , quite suitable for you. Hence, I believe if you control what you eat and do more exercises, you will be in your ideal weight really soon.:)

Haha Lampchop, actually your choice of food are quite similar to my previous eating habits. I also like to dine at Aston and I used to have steak. You can still enjoy Aston's side dishes by choosing healthier alternatives such as their garden salad, coleslaw, corn or baked potato instead of onion rings and french fries. Since you have dropped 3.2kg, keep up the good work.Maybe the problem with you is your huge appetite. Like I said before, if you eat high fibre or low GI food, you wouldnt feel hungry easily. You can also try eating 5 small meals instead of 3 main meals so that you wont feel hungry easily. Then try to exercise more, swimming is a good form of exercise. Not only it burns calories as much as jogging, it is also low impact , quite suitable for you. Hence, I believe if you control what you eat and do more exercises, you will be in your ideal weight really soon.:)

Hi, nice chatting with you:)Thanks for your encouragement. I was a bit weak during my exercise, so after the 1st session, I sat down and waited for the class to be over. I was feeling restless and couldn't stand for 1 hr. Not fit at all! My dinner was fish head curry again, but I controlled and didn't take the curry. Lots of lady's fingers, cabbage & brinjals. Didn't feel like taking the fish. Also ate lettuce, kangkong & cuttlefish, and eggs fried with onions. I'm going shopping tomorrow, going to check out 313@Somerset:) That'll take care of my walking exercise, I hope. I'll keep to not eating after 10pm, as if I'm going for a fasting blood test the next morning. I tried not eating after 6pm, cannot lah!!! Are you still on the AH weight management programme?

You won't have long term results with this. You aren't teaching yourselves the right balance between exercise and diet. There is no quick fix, you need to be exercising to lose weight long term and learn to like it. And you can still eat! Have you seen the biggest loser? They aren't on Optifast, they are working hard to lose the weight. I used to be fat, lost 85 pounds by exercising and eating better, it took about a year and now I do triathlons and marathons and am still in great shape. And now I can pretty much each whatever I want - 6 healthy meals a day. Don't even have to worry about it. Just can't eat garbage and have to do 45 minutes of cardio 4 days a week. It really is not that hard.

Hi Todd -- I applaud your accomplishment and wish you have long-term success. And I have to kindly, with sincere respect to you respond.

I believe we are all aware of and have tried the conventional way to lose weight. Each of us comes from a unique set of life experiences and have unique health concerns the spurred our connection to Optifast. My journey was initiated by my doctor and I am under his constant care during this process.

If the conventional way was "easy" as you stated, there would not be a National Obesity Crisis in the US with millions of $$ spent yearly on researching the complexity of the disease called "Obesity" and how to address/cure it.

The reason that doctors are encouraging programs like Optifast is that during the "active weight loss" phase, removing food is the best way to break food addictions,rapidly reduce fat and reverse severe health crises. After approximately 12 weeks during "transition" food/healthy eating is slowly re-introduced at 1 meal a day giving people time to get used to eating well -- this is followed by "maintenance". So it's immediate removal of bad habits and slowly learning new ones.

A little insight on the Biggest Loser -- the contestants are on low calorie diets with 8 hours of exercise a day. This extreme program creates a deficit between calories in/calories out and stress the body to make it use it's fat stores. Optifast creates a similar deficit and exercise is included. On the show it appears that they are losing large amounts of weight each week, however a "TV week" is longer than 7 days and the weight loss time frame is longer than 3 months on the ranch and 3 months off. Remember it's a "show." The reason why everyone loves the show is because it appears that the contestants are losing the weight rapidly and we like to see people win over obesity.

Sorry to say that just as many people gain the weight back after the conventional method -- because obesity is a disease that must be consistently controlled. Haven't you seen the biggest loser contestants who have gained all the weight back?

Last, I believe this blog is about encouraging and applauding each other's success and not about bashing the Optifast process.

Sorry if I sound harsh-- not my intension at all. Instead I just feel passionate about supporting people's weight loss and overall health -- and I come to this blog daily because it encourages my weight loss process.

<quoted text>Hi Todd -- I applaud your accomplishment and wish you have long-term success. And I have to kindly, with sincere respect to you respond.I believe we are all aware of and have tried the conventional way to lose weight. Each of us comes from a unique set of life experiences and have unique health concerns the spurred our connection to Optifast. My journey was initiated by my doctor and I am under his constant care during this process.If the conventional way was "easy" as you stated, there would not be a National Obesity Crisis in the US with millions of $$ spent yearly on researching the complexity of the disease called "Obesity" and how to address/cure it.The reason that doctors are encouraging programs like Optifast is that during the "active weight loss" phase, removing food is the best way to break food addictions,rapidly reduce fat and reverse severe health crises. After approximately 12 weeks during "transition" food/healthy eating is slowly re-introduced at 1 meal a day giving people time to get used to eating well -- this is followed by "maintenance". So it's immediate removal of bad habits and slowly learning new ones.A little insight on the Biggest Loser -- the contestants are on low calorie diets with 8 hours of exercise a day. This extreme program creates a deficit between calories in/calories out and stress the body to make it use it's fat stores. Optifast creates a similar deficit and exercise is included. On the show it appears that they are losing large amounts of weight each week, however a "TV week" is longer than 7 days and the weight loss time frame is longer than 3 months on the ranch and 3 months off. Remember it's a "show." The reason why everyone loves the show is because it appears that the contestants are losing the weight rapidly and we like to see people win over obesity.Sorry to say that just as many people gain the weight back after the conventional method -- because obesity is a disease that must be consistently controlled. Haven't you seen the biggest loser contestants who have gained all the weight back?Last, I believe this blog is about encouraging and applauding each other's success and not about bashing the Optifast process.Sorry if I sound harsh-- not my intension at all. Instead I just feel passionate about supporting people's weight loss and overall health -- and I come to this blog daily because it encourages my weight loss process.I sincerly wish you continued success with maintaining your obesity.

Thank you very much for responding you did an excellent job and used much nicer words than I would have been able to find. I wish everyone much success and I believe that as Optifast users we know what we are up against day in and day out and as a lifetime.

<quoted text>Hi, nice chatting with you:)Thanks for your encouragement. I was a bit weak during my exercise, so after the 1st session, I sat down and waited for the class to be over. I was feeling restless and couldn't stand for 1 hr. Not fit at all! My dinner was fish head curry again, but I controlled and didn't take the curry. Lots of lady's fingers, cabbage & brinjals. Didn't feel like taking the fish. Also ate lettuce, kangkong & cuttlefish, and eggs fried with onions. I'm going shopping tomorrow, going to check out 313@Somerset:) That'll take care of my walking exercise, I hope. I'll keep to not eating after 10pm, as if I'm going for a fasting blood test the next morning. I tried not eating after 6pm, cannot lah!!! Are you still on the AH weight management programme?

Hi Lambchop, ah I can see you are having fish head curry again. Even though you didnt eat the fish and ate the vegetables, the veggies are still cooked in curry gravy, u know. Actually for fasting blood test, you are not suppose to eat 8 hrs before your test hence which means you are suppose to start fasting after 10pm and not 6pm. BTW, do you cook at home? It is better and easier to prepare healthy food at home rather than dining outside. You should also ask your hubby and son to encourage you losing weight by choosing not to go to fast food restaurants and high calorie food. This is because if they are eating those food, most likely you will be tempted to join them and forgot about your weight loss target. I think for your health sake, your family should support you by being health conscious themselves first.

I am still on AH's wt management program and I am coming towards the end of active phase soon. I am on my 10th week but the wt loss progress seems to be very slow now. And recently I got flu, I had to stop my swimming for a while and I really hate that. This flu is making me feel so restless, and as a result no exercise, my weight loss is minimal. But I know I have to get well before I start my exercise regime again, otherwise it might make my flu get worse. I am quite worried how am I going to handle my "transition" phase. Because I wasnt losing so much weight in my "active " phase, how am I going to lose more weight in the "transition" phase ? I am wondering that I should discuss with my dietician if I should extend the active phase to 15 weeks instead of 12 weeks.

<quoted text>Hi Lambchop, ah I can see you are having fish head curry again. Even though you didnt eat the fish and ate the vegetables, the veggies are still cooked in curry gravy, u know. Actually for fasting blood test, you are not suppose to eat 8 hrs before your test hence which means you are suppose to start fasting after 10pm and not 6pm. BTW, do you cook at home? It is better and easier to prepare healthy food at home rather than dining outside. You should also ask your hubby and son to encourage you losing weight by choosing not to go to fast food restaurants and high calorie food. This is because if they are eating those food, most likely you will be tempted to join them and forgot about your weight loss target. I think for your health sake, your family should support you by being health conscious themselves first.I am still on AH's wt management program and I am coming towards the end of active phase soon. I am on my 10th week but the wt loss progress seems to be very slow now. And recently I got flu, I had to stop my swimming for a while and I really hate that. This flu is making me feel so restless, and as a result no exercise, my weight loss is minimal. But I know I have to get well before I start my exercise regime again, otherwise it might make my flu get worse. I am quite worried how am I going to handle my "transition" phase. Because I wasnt losing so much weight in my "active " phase, how am I going to lose more weight in the "transition" phase ? I am wondering that I should discuss with my dietician if I should extend the active phase to 15 weeks instead of 12 weeks.

I don't cook. My husband & son work out a lot. Yes, we all know about eating the correct types of food. It's not easy for people to eat healthfully. Just that they are the ones not on diet but I am. I'm pretty ok to just watch them eat actually. The bit of curry helps a lot in the taste. I'm introducing AH to my obese niece. How did you enrol there? How much did you pay? Is this your first time doing Optifast? Was so happy today - hit 61.4kg:) Very motivated to eat less! Jeans size down to 30 instead of 32. You mean you totally just drink & had no solid food at all in Active Phase. Not sure if my niece can take that? She's about 90kg (if that's the truth). I was under a senior dietician at Hg Polyclinic before I stopped my visits because he was going to refer me to his senior psychologist colleague. He said he couldn't help me since I know about health education but still continue overeating. But this time round, I'm self-determined to lose my excess weight. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Are you able to take another 3 weeks of Active Phase? Aren't you hungry at all on 800 calories daily? I heard the Cambridge Diet is only 500 calories.

<quoted text>Thank you very much for responding you did an excellent job and used much nicer words than I would have been able to find. I wish everyone much success and I believe that as Optifast users we know what we are up against day in and day out and as a lifetime.

Thanks Penelope -- I try my best to be kind even when others are not. Have a great Optifast week!

Twana:I will "amen" what you said. I will also say that I think most of us on the Optifast program have tried every "conventional" way there is to mankind and it just didn't work/take for us. My cardiologist is the one who told me about the program and this was after I asked him about the weight loss surgery (my oncologist was pushing for me to have that). ALL my doctors are thrilled with my results and feel this is a wonderful program. So to all of you here on OUR program, have a wonderful "opti" day!!!!Pat

Hi Everyone! Has anyone who has lost a substantial chunk of weight (50+) ever hit a plateau on full fast? I had a day where I was a few pounds up, but was back to normal after two days back on fast. Since then, however, my weight has just been the same for the last four days, despite doing 50 minutes of cardio almost daily!

I am sure I am just over-stressing/bummed out about things because I will actually be having surgery on Tuesday - which sort of wipes out my holiday and upsets my plans for how I was going to get off these last pounds during my winter break from school :(

<quoted text>I don't cook. My husband & son work out a lot. Yes, we all know about eating the correct types of food. It's not easy for people to eat healthfully. Just that they are the ones not on diet but I am. I'm pretty ok to just watch them eat actually. The bit of curry helps a lot in the taste. I'm introducing AH to my obese niece. How did you enrol there? How much did you pay? Is this your first time doing Optifast? Was so happy today - hit 61.4kg:) Very motivated to eat less! Jeans size down to 30 instead of 32. You mean you totally just drink & had no solid food at all in Active Phase. Not sure if my niece can take that? She's about 90kg (if that's the truth). I was under a senior dietician at Hg Polyclinic before I stopped my visits because he was going to refer me to his senior psychologist colleague. He said he couldn't help me since I know about health education but still continue overeating. But this time round, I'm self-determined to lose my excess weight. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Are you able to take another 3 weeks of Active Phase? Aren't you hungry at all on 800 calories daily? I heard the Cambridge Diet is only 500 calories.

Hi Lambchop, the price of package is based on the BMI and the price list was given to you last time. Your niece can call up AH directly for appointment or ask polyclinic for reference letter. In AH's program, the optifast fasting is slightly different from the US, active phase will require intake of 5 packets of milkshakes + 2 cups of veggies and plenty of water. Each packet of optifast is 160 calories hence plus the veggies it is more than 800 calories per day. You might want to ask your niece if she is able to withstand no solid food for 12 weeks if she really wants this optifast program. Besides consultations with the doctor and dietician, she also needs to attend at least 2 physical modules to learn behaviour modification and some resistance exercises. I am also hoping to get motivated by losing some kgs but now seems like my active phase has really reached to a plateau, weight loss is minimal and fluctuates alot. My mood depends on the ups and downs of the weighing scale every day.:(

Hi Everyone! Has anyone who has lost a substantial chunk of weight (50+) ever hit a plateau on full fast? I had a day where I was a few pounds up, but was back to normal after two days back on fast. Since then, however, my weight has just been the same for the last four days, despite doing 50 minutes of cardio almost daily!I am sure I am just over-stressing/bummed out about things because I will actually be having surgery on Tuesday - which sort of wipes out my holiday and upsets my plans for how I was going to get off these last pounds during my winter break from school :(Ava

Dear Ava, I am experiencing the plateau now even though I have not lost a huge chunk of weight yet!:( I wonder how to get over this hurdle before I am going into the "transition" phase. BTW, hope you have a speedy recovery after your surgery. It is best that you nurse back into health before you continue to lose those last pounds. All the best to you.

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